1/72 RAAF F-104G Starfighter

[KiwiZac]

Hi all,
I have a lot of spare time at work, and have recently felt the urge to build things out of my comfort zone. So I rifled through the profiles threads and found a Gekko_1 original from ten years ago:


Funnily enough I had that exact squadron marking in my stash! So I then bought an Academy 1/72 Starfighter and:
afc7eb52-0560-444c-992a-40729b1e3fa7_zpsholxhkut_35511966442_o by Zac Yates, on Flickr
aca98a5a-31a4-43e2-a1ab-f3da6c1cbe2f_zpsaijkoreq_35550686501_o by Zac Yates, on Flickr
a6989de8-6cb9-4512-89f2-5479212bcff8_zpsuxjkbd92_34871791753_o by Zac Yates, on Flickr
c98abb32-bfdf-40bb-a46c-a36daf9be827_zpsuvrsbnkk_35511945272_o by Zac Yates, on Flickr

And a final pair of shots showing my two most recent builds - ANZAC fighter allies. They look rather good together, don't you think?
ce76a6ee-f415-43ed-8c38-0381f09e1e21_zpsz5x1pv2b_35511940792_o by Zac Yates, on Flickr
ca97672f-9d23-442e-b896-05187a58f1d9_zpsayshoroa_35680961225_o by Zac Yates, on Flickr

No fancy backstory here, just really liked the look of Mirage IIIO camo and marks on a Starfighter. The decals are the kit's for stencils, Italeri MB326 for roundels and finflash, and spares box roundels to make the blue bigger. The 75Sqn flash was a dry-rub transfer that came from....someone...on this very forum about eight-10yr ago, possibly Tophe. So thank you!

I hope you like it.

[nönöbär]

 
A Starfighter is always good - do not see them here too often

[NARSES2]

That's stunning Zak 

Is that the kit's canopy ? Doesn't look like a 104's but suits the model

[PR19_Kit]

VERY smart indeed! Even better looking than your RNZAF Phantom, I think so anyway. 

[Dizzyfugu]

That's stunning Zak 

Is that the kit's canopy ? Doesn't look like a 104's but suits the model

It's the Academy Starfighter... (*shudder*). 

Anyway, very nice whif, the colors suit the F-104 well. 

[KiwiZac]

Is that the kit's canopy ? Doesn't look like a 104's but suits the model

It's the Academy Starfighter... (*shudder*). 

Exactly right! Everything plastic is OOB apart from the wingtip 'winders, they're from my spares box. It's a nice kit that looks like a Starfighter and is cheap and plentiful here...but those gear wells and cockpit!!! Nasty! But I agree about the canopy, to me it looks a lot more fighterish.

Thanks for the kind words, folks! I'm very grateful for all your praise - given I bought this last week and pretty much rushed it through, I'm pleased with how it came out and you're all very kind for saying what you've said.

nönöbär - I'm glad you like it, I have some other ideas involving this kit. I think the LHS still has one in stock...

Kit - but.....the wings are so tiny! How can you like this?!

[PR19_Kit]

Kit - but.....the wings are so tiny! How can you like this?!

I must admit I had to switch off my 'Small Wings Filter' to see the pic, but (apart from the wings....) it looks great. 

[Captain Canada]

Wow.....that looks great Zac ! Especially the shot of them together.

[zenrat]

Very good.  

[KiwiZac]

Thanks folks for your kind words! I was very pleased at how well they work side by side.

I must admit I had to switch off my 'Small Wings Filter' to see the pic, but (apart from the wings....) it looks great.  

Then you'll be pleased to know an MPC U-2 is on its way to me!   Although it won't be whiffed.

I've read elsewhere the Academy -104 is a caricature - I'm no expert but given it was less than $15 and looks like a Starfighter, I like it! But I will have to do something about boxing in the gear wells and redoing/adding to the cockpit next time.

As a teaser for the next few months: this isn't the last of this RAAF scheme you'll be seeing from me. Two other models are to get this treatment, and I'm excited! Just need to get decals.